Devarez arrived yesterday morning at 8:30, fresh off a 6:30 a.m. flight from Syracuse. The catcher was hitting .252 (37-for-148) with seven doubles, one triple, one home run and 17 RBIs at Rochester and had thrown out 17 of 36 base runners.

He did not play in his major-league call-up earlier this season.

Benitez accepts new

Orioles manager Phil Regan, with a gaggle of relievers who can pitch only one inning, said he would like to see Benitez go to Rochester and learn how to pitch two or three.

The best role for Benitez, Regan said, is an undefined one.

"We don't want to tell him how he's going to be used because we don't want him to have the preconceived idea he's going to pitch one inning," Regan said. "I'd like to see him extend himself and pitch two or three innings. When he comes back, it will help us."

Benitez left his meeting with Regan, Hemond and assistant general manager Frank Robinson slightly disappointed but without incident. He calmly talked with reporters and seemed optimistic about his return.

"I'll go down and work hard," Benitez said. "I'll come back, but I don't know when I'll come back."

Gaining ground at plate

The Orioles are 12-6 and have gained four games in the standings since June 24, moving from nine to five games behind Boston, largely because of their improved offensive production.

The Orioles are batting .298 and averaging 5.8 runs during that stretch. Before that, the Orioles were batting .260 and scoring 4.8 runs.

The team's starters are 10-4 with a 3.68 ERA and the overall team ERA is 3.59 during that period.

Brown mum on Texas

Kevin Brown is making his first start against his former team, the Texas Rangers, tonight, but he isn't saying much about it. He wants his performance to speak for itself.

"I can't talk about going back there," Brown said. "Talk to me after the game."

Royals call up Bunch

Kansas City called up Melvin Bunch, yesterday's starter, from Triple-A Omaha. Bunch was 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA in four games with Omaha, after being sent down on May 24.

Bunch replaced shortstop Edgar Caceres, who was placed on rTC the 15-day disabled list. He injured his right kneecap when he was hit by a Scott Erickson pitch in the seventh inning on Saturday.

"It might be a fracture," Caceres said yesterday. "My knee is swollen badly and bleeding. It's pretty stiff and I can't bend it."

Around the horn

Cal Ripken and Orioles teammate Brady Anderson saw their four-game multi-hit streaks ended. It was the first time in 37 games the Orioles did not have a player with at least two hits. . . . The Orioles, who got only four hits, are 1-10 when getting five hits or fewer.